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    hht311's Avatar
    hht311 Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Mar 1, 2010, 06:04 PM
    Use ground wire in 12-2 romex as neutral
    1966 house. Insulated cable with Black & White to switch that controls a Light/Fan. And the ground is attached to a metal switch box. I am replacing the switch with one that requires a neutral. Would it be safe to replace the metal switch box with a plastic one and then use the ground wire as the neutral ? Power comes in at the light/fan and the cable I'm talking about only runs between the light/fan and switch. I intend to attach labels to the wires at the light/fan and at the switch.
    Your advise would be very much appreciated.
    Missouri Bound's Avatar
    Missouri Bound Posts: 1,532, Reputation: 94
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    #2

    Mar 1, 2010, 07:04 PM
    Absolutely not. The neutral conductor carries electricity, therefore it must be insulated.
    stanfortyman's Avatar
    stanfortyman Posts: 5,598, Reputation: 279
    Electrical & Lighting Expert
    		  
    #3

    Mar 1, 2010, 07:56 PM

    I will only support and reiterate what MB said.

    Contrary to what some might think, this is a BAD idea and very unsafe. Doing so creates a situation where everything metallic can become live with electricity.
    hht311's Avatar
    hht311 Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
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    #4

    Mar 1, 2010, 08:57 PM
    Quote from Missouri Bound.

    Absolutely not. The neutral conductor carries electricity, therefore it must be insulated.

    Quote from stanfortyman.

    "I will only support and reiterate what MB said.

    Contrary to what some might think, this is a BAD idea and very unsafe. Doing so creates a situation where everything metallic can become live with electricity."

    :) Thank you both for your replies.

    :confused: As I stated earlier the ground wire is part of a cable and is therefore insulated except from where it enters & leaves the cable.
    The bare ends would be within a wire nut and be taped from the wire nut up to and past where it extends from the cable.

    It seems to me that with none of it exposed, it would be the same as any other insulated wire.

    It this isn't true, please be kind enough to explain why not.
    Missouri Bound's Avatar
    Missouri Bound Posts: 1,532, Reputation: 94
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    #5

    Mar 1, 2010, 09:05 PM
    It's a bare wire enclosed within the sheath of a cable... it's not an insulated wire. And I'll play the devils advocate. If you use the ground wire as a neutral, how will you ground this circuit? You have taken away the ground protection by using a plastic box without a ground wire. Will it work... yep... should you do it... same as my first answer... ABSOLUTELY NOT!
    tkrussell's Avatar
    tkrussell Posts: 9,659, Reputation: 725
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    #6

    Mar 2, 2010, 06:12 AM
    Stand and MB are very correct.

    Using the bare ground as a neutral is incorrect and unsafe in so many ways. The simple answer is that it is current carrrying.

    Need to install a cable with insulated neutral and a green or bare equipment ground.

    There is no other way around it.
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